About the IMB

IMB Director  Brandon Wainwright
IMB Deputy Director (Systems & Administration) Ian Taylor
IMB Deputy Director (Research) Jenny Stow

The University of Queensland's Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) is recognised nationally and internationally as one of Australia's leading centres for molecular bioscience research.

It was established in 2000 as an amalgamation of UQ's Centre for Molecular and Cellular Biology and the Drug Design and Development Centre, and is housed in the $105 million Queensland Bioscience Precinct, construction of which was finished in 2003.

The IMB is a multidisciplinary research institute with a range of strategic programs in mammalian systems biology, supported by some of the finest facilities in the region.

The IMB has four major divisions:

Genomics and Computational Biology,
Molecular Genetics and Development,
Molecular Cell Biology, and
Chemistry and Structural Biology.

It houses around 450 research staff and research students with an annual budget in the order of nearly AUD$70m.

The major focus of IMB's research is to understand the information contained in the genes, proteins and small molecules of animals and plants and thereby to improve human health through the development of new pharmaceuticals, cell therapies and diagnostics.

More specifically, IMB's major research themes are the understanding of the genetic programming of mammalian development and variation, the mapping of the structure, growth and dynamics of mammalian tissues and cells, and the development of new medicines and technologies, as well as biofuels and insecticides.

Pivotal to the IMB's success in these research endeavours is its involvement in various strategic programs aimed at furthering Australia's research infrastructure and scientific capital.

Supporting leading-edge science research in developing technologies and fostering collaborative efforts with other research institutions and industry, these programs ensure the opportunities of the biotechnology revolution are translated into benefits for our society.

IMB is a core partner in three Australian Research Council Biotechnology Centres of Excellence (COE) - the Australian Stem Cell Centre, the COE in Biotechnology and Development and the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Bioinformatics. IMB researchers are core partners in the Australasian Invasive Animal CRC.

The Institute houses the Advanced Cryo-Electron Microscopy Laboratory - a major node of the Australian Microscopy & Microanalysis Research Facility (AMMRF), the 900 MHz NMR of the Queensland NMR Network and the Dynamic Imaging Facility for Cancer Biology funded by the Australian Cancer Research Foundation.

The Institute's research outcomes are protected and commercialised by the University-owned technology transfer corporation IMBcom Pty Ltd. This company works in tandem with the IMB scientists to achieve effective translation of research discoveries and technologies into high-value applied and commercial outcomes.

The IMB is located along with the CSIRO Divisions of Livestock Industries and Plant Industry in the Queensland Bioscience Precinct, at The University of Queensland in St Lucia, Brisbane, which is the largest integrated bioscience research complex in Australia.

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